Switzerland vs Ireland Preview
Ireland will play Switzerland in a massive FIBA Basketball World Cup European qualifier on Thursday, February 20th. The stakes are high for Ireland, who currently sits second in Group A. Victory over the Swiss would take them one step closer to the promised land.
It would also take the pressure off the Boys in Green before their next game against Azerbaijan. The Swiss emerged victorious when these sides met last November. However, it was a close game, and Ireland pushed hard to close the gap. The Swiss enter this game as favourites, but Ireland will believe that they can secure a positive result. The match will take place in Fribourg at 6:30 pm.
Switzerland vs Ireland Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Switzerland and Ireland know each other well, with a recent meeting at the end of 2024. They’ve played each other five times in their history since 2006. The Irish have never defeated Switzerland. However, the games have always been competitive even if Ireland couldn’t make it over the line.
Their last fixture saw Switzerland emerge victorious in an 86-63 win at the National Basketball Arena. This was Ireland’s first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup home game, so it was a momentous occasion. The Swiss had too much quality on the day, but Ireland was still within five points at the end of the third quarter.
Ireland captain Sean Flood was a man on a mission from the start. The London Lions star kept his country in close contention, with key scores in the first quarter. Ireland came crashing out of the blocks in the second quarter as Neil Randolph narrowed the gap to four points. However, the Swiss enjoyed several key surges throughout this clash.
They put nine past the Irish without reply and went into halftime with a big lead. That was the story of the game. Ireland had significant moments and showed heart but lacked the defensive quality to keep the Swiss out. It was a major learning experience for the boys in green who are still adapting to this level.
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The Swiss have scored at least 72 points per game in their four FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Their place is secure, so it remains to be seen how seriously they take this game. There could be an opportunity for Ireland to capitalise.
Ireland will enter this game off the back of victories over Kosovo and Azerbaijan. They recovered from previous defeats to Switzerland and the Kosovans. The good news for Ireland is Anthony Polite won’t play. The Swiss star has 14.3 points for his country with 5.3 rebounds. However, the charismatic Flood is in outstanding form for Ireland with 19 points.
Switzerland vs Ireland Predictions
Predicted Score: Switzerland 82 – 72 Ireland
Switzerland enters this game as justifiable favourites on our sports betting platform. This is no surprise because they’ve won their opening four games in Group A. They have two victories over Azerbaijan and one over Kosovo and Ireland. They’ll believe five on the bounce is in the bag.
The Swiss have a clutch of elite players, including Boris Mbala, Killian Martin, and Natan Jurkovitz. Most of their stars play at a higher level than their Irish equivalents. They also have more depth, unlike Ireland, which struggles without its biggest names. That’s why our basketball prediction is that the Swiss will win.
We believe this game will be tight for the opening three quarters. Ireland will be highly motivated and will push the Swiss in the early stages. However, the Swiss have too much class and will probably pull away in the last quarter. The Irish will do well to reduce the deficit from their previous clash, but we can’t see them winning.
Ireland also suffered a colossal blow with the news that Taiwo Badmus is unavailable for this game. The Reykjavik star is one of Ireland’s best players but is injured. He also departed the first game with a knock. Unfortunately, Badmus hasn’t had the impact against the Swiss that Ireland coach Mark Keenan hoped.
Sean Flood is Ireland’s key player in this match. The London star is a prolific scorer and can be a game-changer. We expect him to receive plenty of the ball but it can’t all fall on him. His teammates must spread more scores around if they hope to beat the Swiss. We’re looking at Lorcan Murphy and Jordan Blount to ease the pressure on Flood.
Anthony Polite is a massive absence for the Swiss because he also leads his country in steals. His lack of availability gives Ireland a better chance. Selim Fofana may step up in Polite’s absence. The point guard also offers a scoring threat and is a player to watch in this game. This could be a scrappy clash, but that may be Ireland’s best hope of victory.
Cork's star returns as Ireland eyes FIBA 2027! Watch them tackle Switzerland and Azerbaijan in the last qualifier window. https://t.co/92f7PMLV3o pic.twitter.com/QkIg42XwdJ
— Mira Soto (@MiraS3471) February 12, 2025
Ireland’s head coach, Mark Keenan, recalled Kyle Hosford for this game. The UCC Demons star retired from international duty in 2022. A former Ireland captain, he helped UCC win the Pat Duffy National Cup Final last year. This is a massive boost for Ireland, especially with Badmus missing out with injury. Hosford’s leadership will be essential for the Boys in Green.
Don’t forget to check out the live betting markets. Basketball is an end-to-end sport. One missed three-pointer or an injury to a key player can change the course of a game. Keep an eye on the in-play odds so you can react to events in real time.
Switzerland vs Ireland Betting Tips
Switzerland will enter this game as favourites in our online sportsbook. This is not a surprise because Ireland has never defeated the Swiss. Betting on Switzerland may seem the wisest option because of their strong record and decent form. Remember, you can enhance the odds by applying a handicap to your bet.
However, this may be an excellent opportunity to bet on the underdog. Ireland pushed the Swiss close in their last meeting. Now Switzerland is without arguably their best player in Anthony Polite. Meanwhile, Ireland will count on Kyle Hosford to dust off his shoes quickly and make a sizeable impact on his return to international duty. The boys in green know that victory over the Swiss will almost guarantee them the second spot in the group.
This is a massive motivation for Ireland and it may elevate their levels. Check out the individual basketball betting markets or player props. We favour Sean Flood as Ireland’s top scorer because he never lets Ireland down. Lorcan Murphy also offers an elite scoring threat for the Irish.
Yoan Granvorka is one of Switzerland’s best young two-way players. We believe he can have a big impact on this game. Betting on him to make the most blocks could be a good option in this clash. Granvorka has outstanding athletic gifts and he’s ready for a breakout performance.
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Basketball provides plenty of betting options. Consider an over-under bet on the number of total points. We believe that there will be fewer than 200. This correlates with our predicted score. You can also bet on the total number of points that the home or away teams score.
Basketball fans enjoy a good points race. We think the Swiss will be the first to break 70 points. They haven’t scored fewer than 72 points in Group A so far, so this is one of our top tips. You could also pick the winning margin. We predict the Swiss will win by at least 10 points. Players can also select the winner of each half.
Why not look beyond this game and bet on the FIBA World Cup? The USA remains the betting favourite to win the tournament at 3/10. Australia and Canada are second-favourites at 10/1. But we like Victor Wembanyama’s France as an outside bet at 11/1. It’s a risky pick, but it could be a wonderful opportunity to use a welcome bonus.
Switzerland Team News and Squad
The big news for Switzerland is that Anthony Polite won’t play against Ireland. Currently, it’s unknown if he’ll be fit for their final group game against Kosovo.
- Switzerland Squad: Killian Martin, Michel-Ofik Nzege, Anthony Polite, Yuri Solca, Robert Zinn, Noe Anabir, Noah Burrell, Selim Fofana, Yoan Granvorka, Boris Mbala, Robert Zinn, Laurent Zoccoletti, and Natan Jurkovitz.
Ireland Team News and Squad:
The big news for Ireland is Taiwo Badmus’ absence. The Valur Reykjavik star is a significant loss. Aidan Igiehon is also unavailable. However, veteran Kyle Hosford returns to Ireland duty for the first time in three years.
- Ireland Squad: Adrian O’Sullivan, Conor Quinn, David Lehane, Kyle Hosford, James Hannigan, John Carroll, Jordan Blount, Matt Treacy, Neal Quinn, Rapolas Buivydas, Seán Flood, and Sean Jenkins.
